Crafty Chica Crafts a Crowded Career
By Dave Astor
Published: May 01, 2006

Kathy Cano-Murillo joined The Arizona Republic in 1995 so she could have a cubicle of her own while living the frenetic life of a home-based crafts artist.

Now, 11 years later, her life is far busier. While still working as a crafts artist, Murillo writes a crafts column and two other weekly features for the Republic, is working on two books, appears on TV, blogs, and has a hand in several other projects.

How does Murillo -- also known as the "Crafty Chica" -- do all this? "I have a flexible schedule. I'm able to move different blocks of responsibilities around," she says.

"I don't think she sleeps," adds Stacy Sullivan, assistant arts and entertainment editor at the Republic.

Murillo's packed schedule did cause her to become a part-timer again at the paper last June. She had spent her initial years at the Republic as a clerk and in other jobs before becoming a full-time reporter after completing her bachelor's degree at night.

But even as a part-timer, Murillo manages to write a crafts column called "Crafty Ideas," do an interview column called "Hollywood Q&A," and co-author the "Idol Chatter" column about Fox's wildly popular "American Idol" show.

Although Murillo and her husband Patrick specialize in "hip" Latina-influenced crafts, "Crafty Ideas" helps readers create crafts of all types. The column began in late 1999, and soon was syndicated to more than 40 newspapers via Gannett News Service.

Murillo feels that being a crafts artist is a big help for a crafts columnist. "I know what I'm talking about, or I know who to ask if I don't," says the Republic writer, adding that the crafts industry boasts more than $30 billion in annual sales.

For her Hollywood column, Murillo has interviewed such celebrities as Drew Barrymore, Halle Berry, Laurence Fishburne, Jake Gyllenhaal, Salma Hayek, Felicity Huffman, Heath Ledger, Lucy Liu, and Jennifer Lopez.

Murillo -- who also does entertainment stories, other feature pieces, and occasional movie reviews for the Republic -- pens "Idol Chatter" with Randy Cordova. The two tend to have different musical tastes, giving their feature a lively point-counterpoint feel. "Last year, I liked Bo Bice and he liked Carrie Underwood," says Murillo.

Sullivan says of Murillo's columns and stories: "I enjoy reading them because they're so energetic and so innovative." The editor recalls that one week Murillo didn't have a celebrity to interview for "Hollywood Q&A," so she came up with a quirky idea to create an NCAA-tournament-like bracket in which actresses from scary movies competed against each other. (The "Fright Fight" winner: Sigourney Weaver for "Alien.")

Murillo is also writing a novel with the working title "The Crafty Chica Chronicles," and working on her sixth nonfiction book. Her fifth work, published in February, is "Crafty Chica's Art de la Soul: Glittery Ideas to Liven Up Your Life." Two of her first four books were aimed at tween girls "as a way to honor my daughter," says Murillo. A third book was based on her six-year-old CraftyChica.com Web site.

In addition, the columnist demonstrates an original crafts project weekly on KNPX-TV's "Arizona Midday," appears occasionally on other programs, and is involved in the development of a possible show she would host.

If that's not enough, Murillo will lead a "Crafty Chica Creativity Cruise" this fall -- and she certainly has the fan base to fill a boat. "You go a restaurant with Kathy," says Sullivan, "and everyone knows the 'Crafty Chica.'"

— Dave Astor